Mel has been a massage therapist since 1985, and has become one of the world's leading authorities on the subject through his books and presentations.

As a marathon runner and triathlete in the mid 1980s he began to use self-massage regularly to aid his recovery from training. Realising its great potential he gave up an uninspiring career in business to develop a proper understanding of the subject. He qualified in Remedial Massage through the Northern Institute of Massage in 1985 and then began what he describes as his "learning adventure", which continues to this day. He has studied and experienced many different sport, exercise and therapy situations and his CPD experience includes dissection and cadaver studies.

Although he now only has time to run a small clinic in NW London he has the widest clinical experience and his clients used to include the heavy-weight boxer Frank Bruno and the prima ballerina Sylvie Guillem. Beside this interest in sport his practice has always included clients from all walks of life including those with disabilities and serious illness.

In 1988 he wrote the first book on Sports Massage with Dr Jari Ylinen. Since then he has written two more internationally selling textbooks, Sport & Remedial Massage Therapy and the Pocket Atlas of the Moving Body. He has a new book coming out in 2011. In 1989 he established the London School of Sports Massage which has remained the pioneer and leader in the field to this day.

Over the last 10 years he has changed his focus away from sport and is much more concerned with developing a level of advanced remedial soft tissue therapy that properly meets the clinical needs of all sectors of the population.

His other interests include running (but not very well anymore) and adventure travel. He has trekked and climbed in the Himalaya’s many times and is closely involved with the Seeing Hands Nepal charity.

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BOOKS

“Published April 2012”

Advanced Remedial Massage and Soft Tissue Therapy:The aim of the therapist is to treat and 'remedy' a client’s problem; but to offer a real remedy you must do more than just relieve pain; you must also understand how the problem came about and how it can be avoided in future.

Advanced Remedial Massage and Soft Tissue Therapy develops a deep understanding of the way the musculoskeletal system functions and dysfunctions. It also describes a range of advanced treatment techniques within a framework of assessment and rehabilitation. The guidance in this book will enable therapists to work safely and effectively with a very wide range of conditions suffered by people from all walks of life. Illustrated with 200 photographs and 75 diagrams it has clear concise text written by a therapist for the therapist. This highly informative guide is a must-have both for students and therapists of remedial massage, physiotherapy, Osteopathy and all other forms of manual therapy.

For all students of human biology, medicine, sport and physical therapy, this pocket atlas contains all the most essential information needed to understand how the human body moves and maintains posture.

35 superb colour illustration of the muscular and skeletal systems

Extensive table of muscles outlining their origins, insertions and actions